Bad water in Blades; Carney issues executive order

By Shannon Marvel McNaught

Thursday

Feb 8, 2018 at 10:00 PM

State to provide bottled water for drinking and cooking. Carney directs state National Guard to help.

Blades is being provided with bottled water after the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control found high concentrations of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in all three of the town's wells.

According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, PFCs are widely-used manufactured compounds used to make everyday products more resistant to things like stains, grease and water. They are used in cookware, carpet, clothing, mattresses, food packaging, firefighting materials and aerospace, automotive and electronic products. PFCs are troublesome because they are slow to break down in both the environment and in the human body.

The NIEHS website states: "In animal studies, some PFCs disrupt normal endocrine activity; reduce immune function; cause adverse effects on multiple organs, including the liver and pancreas; and cause developmental problems in rodent offspring exposed in the womb. Data from some human studies suggests that PFCs may also have effects on human health, while other studies have failed to find conclusive links. Additional research in animals and in humans is needed to better understand the potential adverse effects of PFCs for human health."

DNREC discovered the high PFC levels in Blades after sampling the water at the request of the U.S. EPA.

Bottled water will be delivered on Friday, Feb. 9, at noon at the Blades Fire Hall for all residents. According to DNREC, bottled water will continue to be provided until a permanent solution is in place. The town water is considered safe for bathing and laundry.

Blades Elementary will be closed to students on Friday. Staff should report two hours late and not before 10 a.m.